Steve DaSilva
At the November 2000 Annual Awards banquet, outgoing Club President Christopher Clark presented Steve's dad, Ed, with the award for Senior Sportsmanship. Here is some of the text from the Special Presentation to Ed DaSilva:
The Westwood family lost another member in 2000 with the tragic death of Steve DaSilva. His passing has touched every member of the club.
Renaming the Sportsmanship Senior trophy to the Steve DaSilva Memorial Award was an obvious choice to honour Steve as he exemplified all that this trophy stands for.
Bob Calhoun graciously refurbished this award. The trophy is now made of solid oak - oak is the symbol of everlasting life and was chosen to represent our memories of Steve DaSilva as they live on in each of us.
Oak is also used as a symbol of greatness as in the expression "Heart of Oak" and "Royal Oak". Steve had a great heart for people and cared about everyone and he was solid as an oak - a fitting wood for a good person.
Steve started karting in the Novice class in 1994 at the age of 16. He placed second in that Rookie year. Then quickly moved up to 80cc shifter karts in 1995 and won that class in 1996.
In 1997 Steve placed second overall in the Pacific Northwest Gold Cup Series. In 1998 he moved up to 125cc shifter karts. There he placed second in 1998 and won the class in 1999.
He had a cool head and a very positive attitude which was recognized in 1997 when this award was shared between Steve and Andrea Sherman.
Steve set a wonderful example for all the young drivers in the club. His sense of fun and sense of humour were always appreciated. We will all remember him for his joyful, caring manner and his love of the sport.
original posting
As mentioned on the NEWS page, Westwood has suffered
another loss, the third in 2 years. Steve DaSilva,
racing this 2000 season in the 125 Shifter class, was killed in a traffic accident on Labour Day,
while riding as a passanger. I remember Steve as a Junior, hanging around the tracks -
all sorts of different parking lots then - with Trevor Johnson and such. He was always the
most friendly person you could know and one of the nicest people at any event. Quick to
volunteer his time and not known as a complainer, we will miss him. A well earned
Senior Sportsmanship award for the 2000 season, but we would all rather have him here with
us instead.
At the club meeting of March 2001 a motion was passed and Steve's number of 96 has now been retired from all Westwood Club racing, only being allowed as an option for the winner of the Sportsmanship trophy named for Steve.